Are you sick and tired of being broke at the end of the work week? Stop spending all of your extra money on silly things that you can make yourself! Here’s 10 ways to save money without feeling deprived.

When you’re looking for ways to save money it can often feel like you have to give up everything that you enjoy just to make ends meet. But, it doesn’t have to be that way! There is no reason that you can’t have the things you love, you just have to work a little harder to get them.

I have this terrible habit of buying duplicates when I go grocery shopping…maybe you do it, too. For example, I’ll buy a bag of raw potatoes, a couple packets of instant potatoes, some french fries, tater tots and sometimes, even frozen, diced potatoes. By the time I’m done buying potatoes, I’ve already spent $20 of my grocery budget.

That’s insane!

If I’d stick with just the bag of fresh potatoes, I’d be able to make all of the other potato products that I’m buying and I’d save a ton of money. It’s ridiculous to buy so many potato products!

I do the same thing with bread. Instead of sticking with the flour, sugar, yeast and butter that are already in my shopping cart, I add a couple of loaves of bread, some tortillas, English muffins and sometimes, hamburger or hotdog rolls.

Hello! Totally could have made all of those with the flour, sugar, yeast and butter.

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Crazy, right?

But, do you see the pattern? If we’d stop spending so much of our hard earned money buying duplicate products, we’d spend a whole lots less on necessary expenses, like groceries. Yes, sometimes it takes just a little bit longer to make your own, but in the end, it’s better for you. And buying less duplicates and premade products will save you a ton of money!

So, let’s get started! Here’s some of my favorite ways to save money –

10 Ways to Save Money Without Feeling Deprived

Make your own takeout in less time than it takes to go through the drive-thru on your way home.

Go on a picnic instead of out to a restaurant.

Stock your freezer with individual cheese pizza for the kids.

Make your own homemade freezer biscuits from scratch – they make a great breakfast or a side dish with dinner.

Start meal planning to reduce your grocery bill while still eating your favorite meals.

Use a printable inventory list to keep track of the food you have in your freezer, pantry and refrigerator.

Decorate your home with free printables instead of spending a bunch of money on expensive art work.

Stop buying your morning cup at expensive coffee shops and start making your favorite iced coffee at home instead.

Start canning and preserving your own food. It’s not only cheaper, but it’s healthier and tastes better, too.

Stretch your meat with casseroles and one dish meals.

Head over to my Saving Money page to find even more ways to save money without feeling deprived!

Have a Spectacular Day!

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Vanessa Hamlin

Vanessa Hamlin is the owner and founder of Food Life Design and VLHamlinDesign. With her passion for frugal living and homesteading, Vanessa loves to write about easy recipes, making money, gardening, home remedies and everything else that a good life entails! When she’s not writing for Food Life Design or creating products for VLHamlinDesign, you’ll find Vanessa reading, drawing, gardening, cooking or spending time with her family.